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Seattle Real Estate Spotlight: Vashon Island

Vashon Island is the largest island in southern Puget Sound, and though accessible only by ferry it is popular with commuters who work in Seattle or Tacoma. Residents are attracted by island life's slower pace and the breathtaking scenery at every turn. A quirky, independent spirit prevails here, and residents are loyal to their island and its local businesses. Homes here range from spectacular waterfront estates to smaller bungalows and farmhouses.

History

Vashon was once two separate Islands - Vashon and Maury - but were connected when residents built an isthmus uniting the two in 1916, also the year the first car ferry made trips to the island. Though logging was one of the island's early industries, farming became its main focus around the turn of the 20th Century. After years of struggles with off-island transportation, residents have debated building a bridge to the mainland, but so far have preferred their independence over convenience.

Points of Interest

Vashon maintains a mostly rural environment with a small downtown area in the town of Vashon, with businesses such as the Vashon Coffee Roasterie, the Hardware Store restaurant, the Vashon Bookshop, and a movie theater. A 20-minute crossing to the Fauntleroy ferry dock in West Seattle allows Vashon residents to quickly reach the conveniences of the city, and ferries also offer service to Tacoma and the Kitsap Peninsula.